On March 26, 1979, the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty was signed by Egyptian President, Anwar al-Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister, Menachem Begin. In exchange for peace, the Israeli government gave up the Sinai Peninsula which had been captured during the six-day war of 1967. However, although the present Egyptian Government claims that they will continue to honour the Treaty, it does appear to be fraying with time. Recently it was reported by the radio Station ‘The voice of Israel’ that Egypt had moved without Israel’s permission, thousands of troops including anti-aircraft missiles, into the Sinai Peninsula. The reason given was to crush terrorist activity there but this cannot explain the need for anti aircraft missiles.

Uri Ariel ,chairman of the Knesset Oversight Committee, commented that “the Egyptians have for a long time been systematically violating the Camp David peace treaty, but the government of Israel continues to hide its head in the sand.”

Egypt is going through a number of stressful changes at the moment and this may just be a knee jerk reaction to draw attention away from the Nation’s problems.

In Cairo and Jerusalem, over three days of meetings and talks, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appeared to counsel patience to Israel. She stated "The (Egyptian) economy is in desperate need of reform, the political process is a work in progress, a long way from being finalised, there are serious fissures within society that have to be addressed," ; and pointed out that Egypt was going through this democratic process for the first time in 5,000 years.

Certainly, the whole of Egypt does not appear to be behind Mr Mursi the new Egyptian President. Those sceptical of his fulfilling his promises concerning bread shortages, traffic, security, fuel shortages, and cleanliness have created the ‘Mursi meter’ to show how many of the 64 goals, promised in his 100 Day Plan, he has actually achieved.

Dissatisfaction is rife particularly among the young who make statements on Facebook like. "Congratulations for the Sunni version of Iran,"; and on placards during Hillary Clinton’s visit ‘we don’t want Hamas to rule Egypt’ (Hamas is an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, governing the Gaza Strip). It seems that Egypt is in for a ‘bumpy ride’ which may end in further protests and violence in the streets.

Today’s events are very close to what the Scriptures lead us to expect before the Return of Christ. The invasion of Israel by the King of the North (Gog), will be the trigger which brings Jesus to save Israel and just prior to this we can expect Egypt to be suffering from serious internal problems. Happily, the Scriptures talk of both Egypt's smiting and later healing when Christ returns - and their eventual submission to him in the Kingdom Age.

Egypt given into the Hand of a Cruel Lord

When the great invasion of Israel by Gog, prophesied in Daniel 11 and Ezekiel 38, takes place, Egypt will be one of the nations opposing Gog and will soon fall victim to his swift advance. We read in Daniel 11:40–43 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.

The Prophet Isaiah speaks of God’s plans for Egypt in the 19th Chapter, here we read of that time.

19:1:The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.

Immediately before the LORD sends Jesus, Egypt will be torn by Civil War.

19:2-3 And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.

The civil unrest we see today is a sample of what will happen to Egypt in the latter days. It parallels the situation we see in the Olivet prophecy.

Luke 21:25–28 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring (symbolic of peoples in turmoil); Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven (the governments) shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

What we are seeing today is a similar situation – We have already seen the mood of the Egyptian’s in their demonstrations against Mubarak with a sea of people roaring and the powers of heaven or (governments) being shaken preparatory to Christ’s return when he comes with “power and great glory”. One of the first places to which he will go is Egypt which Isaiah 19 tells us will be under the control “of a cruel lord” Isa 19:4 And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts.

Egypt’s Conversion

Yet, as with all the world’s troubles, there is a purpose in Egypt’s present unrest– that purpose is to eventually bring the Egyptians under the rule of the Lord Jesus Christ. When suffering harsh oppression; they will send up a heartfelt cry unto God – and he will send them a Saviour. Isaiah 19:18-22 continues :In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD. And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them. And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it. And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them.

There is to be an amazing change in Egypt, a chastened people, saved and brought under the rule of the Lord Jesus Christ. In great distress they will cry unto the LORD and He will “heal them” and they will worship Him.

The Kingdom Age

We are promised that during the Kingdom Age all nations will go up to the Temple that will be built in Jerusalem to worship God. We read in Isaiah 2:2–5

And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.

The people of many nations will be rebuked and will responnd favourably to the call recorded in Revelation 14:6-7.

I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgement is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

The conversion of Egypt recorded by Isaiah in Ch. 19 will also result in an amazing accord which will result in the free movement of refugee Jews to Israel, via Egypt and Assyria both of whom God will consider “his people”

Isaiah 19:25 In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria (Northern Iraq), and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.

So while many people in the world have “hearts failing them for fear of what is coming upon the earth”, we can take comfort in the scripture, and courage in the word of our God – knowing that He “rules in the kingdoms of men” and is bringing about His purpose upon the earth, when His Son will rule in righteousness and all nations will fall down before him.